OCEANSIDE: Young business minds pitch plans in popular contest

A strong business usually starts with a good idea. It also needs
support and encouragement.

That's the thinking behind the annual MiraCosta College Small
Business Development Center Young Entrepreneurs Project (YEP).

The program allows high school and college-age burgeoning
entrepreneurs the chance to make a pitch for their business idea in
front of fellow students and members of the business community.

In the Idea Challenge category, past winners and finalists have
included vintage sunglass stores, a doggie bakery, a teen nightclub
and an environmental consultancy.

The fourth annual event Thursday in the MiraCosta College
Student Center was a parade of young business brainpower, with
students pitching ideas ranging from event production to sports,
from clothing to yoga, juice, online marketing and shoes.

Each team had 10 minutes to pitch their idea to judges and
audience. The judges evaluated ideas and presentations, then
declared two winners from the high school and college divisions.
Winners received a shared total of $3,000 to help further their
ideas.

High school competition first-place honors went to Allysa Lowie
and Joshua Lam from Murrieta Valley High, and their business plan
for Twisted Images; while second-place honors went to Kassidy
Ramirez, Maribel Robles, Jeannette Carrasco, Elizabeth Mendoza and
Gloria Merrick from Vista High, and their business plan for Extreme
Events.

In the college competition, Gabrielle Moreau from MiraCosta
College won first place for her Keep In Check business plan, while
second place went to MiraCosta College students Gabriel Connors and
Isiah Pohlert for Detox Juicing and SixOneNine Marketing,
respectively.

"We are pretty impressed with the ideas we've heard," said YEP
coordinator James Hayes. "The idea here is to help students
interested in entrepreneurship. We show them that they don't
necessarily need to go work for someone else, that becoming an
entrepreneur is an option."

The concept also promotes the idea of creating jobs rather than
taking them, Hayes said.

"Eighty-five percent of all new jobs come from startups," he
said.

Some ideas thrived on complex concepts turned basic, such as
Pohlert's business plan for search-engine optimization. Pohlert
tied for second place in the college category.

"Most business have Web sites, but often nothing happens with
them," Pohlert said. "What they need is optimization."

Area businesses and agencies participated in the event,
including AT&T and the North County Transit District. Both
listened to marketing campaign ideas from students.

"We want to foster young minds and see the kinds of ideas and
concepts they come up with," said NCTD marketing representative
Emily Peters. "It's good for us because we listen to the ideas of
college students, and that is one of our major demographics in
Sprinter usage. It's valuable for everyone involved."

The Small Business Development Center offers consultants,
trainers and business professionals to assist students in creating
viable businesses. Advice on products, services, management
structure and the daily operations of running a business are
included.

The YEP curriculum is online and open to all high school and
college students at no cost. Since 1999, the center ---- at 1823
Mission Ave. in Oceanside ---- has assisted more than 13,000
businesspeople in establishing 223 new businesses. The YEP program
gets them started early.

"Students gain team building skills, confidence and practical
experience that will not only help them run and operate a business,
but any endeavor," Hayes said.